The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-01
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE.

whole finally. Bills were passed reincorporat-
ing Fremont. Newaygo County, and allowing
Big Rapids To borrow IS, 900 TO build bridge;
also bill incorporating associations OF mint
growers. bill appropriating 5000 To
purchase additional land for State public
school failed OF passage. The House
Of Representatives passed the Bettinger bill
providing free text hooks for the schools of De-
troit by vote OF SO TO 10. IL goes into effect
Jan l. 1888. This is but one OF the many similar
measures now pending before the Legislature,
Grand Rapids having already secured this
plan this session. The Manly bill. provid-
ing free and uniform textbooks for the
entire State, called up by its intro
Queer, and unusual procedure fol-
lowed. Hon. s. s. Babcock, Of Detroit, who
has for years come before the committee on
this subject, presumably in the interest OF pub
fishing houses, was permitted to speak to the
House while they took an informal recess. He
made long and exhaustive argument against
the measure, and il failed OF passage. IL will
probably be reconsidered, though the Dillon
BILL yet general orders, is considered by
many the stronger bin. Gov. Luce urges legis-
lation OF some sort to do away with lack of uni
formity in books and excessive charges by
publishers.
THE bili providing that the 81 900 fund annu-
ally raised by counties for bridge purposes
should be pro-rated among townships in pro-
portion to the amounts raised by each town.
ship for bridge purposes passed both houses
ON the 2lst; also the bill permitting
the Board of Supervisors Of Houghton
County TO borrow money to build n bridge.
III Lle HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, an
examination of the legislative journal failed to
disclose any record of the speech Of Mr.. Bah
cock or of the resolution granting him permits
sion 20 speak on Friday. Mr. Manley sent up
a resolution reciting the facts in the case that
such recess ordered and that Mr.. Bah
cock addressed the House. On this the House
showed n very unusual and bitter spirit, and at
first refused TO have the correction made, several
of the members charging MIR. Manley with at
tempting TO create capital for himself by this
means. The personalities engaged in caused
Manley to lose his head for the first time this
session, though he maintained dignihed man
ner throughout his entire caustic arraignment
of members, who, be said, had constantly
aimed at him ungentlemanly and uncourteous
charges and slanderous accusations. He con-
cuded his speech by disclaiming any and
all attempts to create capital and startled tho
House by his final statement: Gentlemen OF
the House. inasmuch as l cannot receive fair
and honorable treatment at your hands, shall
to-day tender my resignation as a member of
this body and return TO n constituency where
can at least receive respectful consideration.
The statement made profound sensation. No
one ventured reply, and the resolution 70 so
change the record as to simply show recess
was had prevailed by very quiet vote
THERE was no quorum in the Senate on the
sd, and that body adjourned Immediately after
rol-call. The House had barely a quorum, and
spent the whole day in committee Of the whole,
the greater part of the time Perkins game
and fish bill The main objection to the bill is
against the size OF the mesh of nets, which it
was sought to make four inches. The fishermen
protest against this and the committee amended
IL to two and half. Another source of opposi-
tion is found in lumber-mill owners, who OPP
pose the provision preventing the depositng of
sawdust in any inland stream or bay OF the
State They admit that it kills fish, but say it
would be hardship to them. That provision
allowed to stand.
The high license liquor bill was reported
from the Senate Committee on Liquor Traffic
in the form Of substitute, on May "a. 1t was
ordered printed and made the special order fer
the 9th, and continuously thereafter until dis
posed of. The committee made log changes in
the bill, most of them. however, of minor char
acter. The amount OF tax remains the same,
and the general bond provisions and di-
vision of tax stands as passed by the
House. They have, however, Incorporated
therein a civil damage act and have
added several penal clauses. Also an old
act prohibiting students in any State institu-
tion from playing cards, dice, or other game in
any room where liquors are sold: bill has
passed the Senate Incorporating the village Of
Saut ste. Marie into city The great boom
there necessities more stringent local laws.
The Senate took up n dead title, changed
il to n bill appropriating $4,000 in aid OF fire
sufferers at Lake Linden, and rushed it
through. 1t was at once sent over to the House,
There was no opposite to the bill The
House spent nearly the entire day on the Uni
versity APPROPRIATION bill, and finally passed it
with the s7j,0 for an experimental laboratory
still in On this tight was made, but the
House contains too many University graduates
to prevent any reasonable appropriation Bills
State Normal School; to reincorporate the city
OF st. Ignace to provide for the election of
Mine Inspector by the people on the state
ticket
THE bill to abolish bucket-shops passed the
Senate May 25. It is very strong in its provis-
ions, providing penalty of not less than 500
for the first ofense md six months in the coun-
~ Jail for the second The owner Of the building
occupied by such shop is held responsible in all
sspects the same as the principal on his agent.
senator Posts kill 'em-b yligntning" capital
punishment bill the special order in the
Senate, and all aft n the enacting clause was
stricken out The Harrington divorce bill
passed both houses. Among the new pro-
visions Is one preventing divorced parties
from remarying during period Of two years.
bill permitting the taking of oral testimony
in certain cases before the Supreme Court
passed both houses also bill attaching GER
thin lands in Houghton County to the TOWNSHIP
OF Portage likewise bill amending an act in
coipor ting mutual fire insurance companies.
on third reading in the House OF representa-
tives AMI passed by a vote OF I'll
yeas to % nays. The total amount APP
PROF rated is Sl92, jG59i all for new build
ings apparatus, and fixtures except $4,000
foi additional salaries. The item of $4,000 for
a new scientific experimental laboratory,
against which fight was made, remains in the
! bill The Perkins FISH bill also passed the
House. 1t restricts fishing with nets to GER
tain extent in certain waters, regulates the size
OF the mesh at 3A9 inches, and prohibits mill
owners from throwing sawdust into streams.
The latter clause was strongly opposed on the
ground that IL unnecessary hard
| ship TO millmen. Representative Rogers
railroad bill passed the House by
a strong vote of 7S yeas - nays. This prac-
tically applies tho interstate commerce law to
all roads not now affected by the legislation.
! A measure of more interest To Saginaw than any
other possible thing came up in the House, it
| being an act to consolidate East Saginaw, Sagi-
| nav City, Carrolton and Florence, TO be known
as the City of Saginaw. It was passed by a
vote of 60 to 10.
THE Agricultural College special appropria-
ton bill passed the Senate May 20. The total
amounts to $50 los, and includes the proposed
cottage for bachelor professors. The Senate
also passed Senator Monroes general banking
| law. This cannot become a law until It has
| been adopted by vote OF the people at the
| general election. Senator Crosby's bill
| for a return to the county system OF
| collecting delinquent taxes failed to
\ pass the committee of the whole. The
| House passed bills to authorize the village
| OF Benton Harbor TO borrow money for public
| improvements TO amend the charter Of Niles
| City; authorizing the city OF Kalamazoo to
vacate streets. The Public Health Committee
| reported adversely upon the bill TO provide
| for registrat on of physicians and surgeons
| and TO protect persons against quackcry.
The Sharp swamp-land bills were both passed
| by the committee of the whole in the House,
but when they we're put on their final passage
| forty-eight favorable votes were all that could
| be obtained, while forty-one members voted
/ nav They were recOnsidered and tabled The